Sarnia soccer coach Kevin Simmonds loved the sport and his players

Simmonds was coaching the Sarnia U17 Spirit girls team this season. “Kevin was an inspiration to our players, coaches, managers and parents,” the Sarnia Girls Soccer Club said in a statement. “He was the kind of person who always told it like it was and spoke from the heart. Kevin cared deeply about the people around him and the players he coached. … Kevin is truly irreplaceable and will be missed by so many.” He was a “tremendous volunteer,” former club president Terry Lawrence wrote on Facebook. “He was not only a great coach who developed numerous players and teams, he also mentored young coaches, became a referee and built a successful indoor program for the club,” Lawrence said. “He basically did anything that was asked of him.” Parents of Simmonds’ former players remembered his generosity and compassion. “I don’t know any other coach that gave so much and asked for so little,” Leanne Vidler wrote on Facebook. “Kevin was a big part of women’s soccer and a favourite coach of my daughters.”